090: Sensory processing disorder

This episode comes to us courtesy of my friend Jess, whose daughter has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and who is on a mission to make sure that as many parents as possible learn about it. She says that every time she describes it to a parent they realize that they know someone who exhibits behavior that looks like SPD that warrants following up.   I have to say that I was highly ambivalent about doing this episode, because I don’t usually deal with topics that result in medical diagnoses as I’m (obviously) not a doctor. But the more I looked into this the more I realized that helping parents to understand the mess of research on this topic is exactly the kind of thing that I usually do on this show, and that an episode on this topic could probably be useful to a number of you.   And here’s the love letter to John McPhee that I mention in the episode   Jump to highlights 01:21 The story behind this episode: a listener's daughter and her path to an SPD diagnosis 03:19 Origins of the field: Dr. A. Jean Ayres and her book Sensory Integration and the Child 05:33 Dr. Lucy Jane Miller's three main pattern types and subtypes of SPD 08:16 Where SPD is thought to come from, and why parents shouldn't blame themselves 09:37 Distinguishing SPD from Dr. Elaine Aron's highly sensitive person concept, and a note on unintegrated reflexes 12:19 SPD and autism comorbidity 12:36 Why SPD isn't in the DSM-5, and problems with Dr. Ayers' own diagnostic test 20:11 What SPD treatment looks like in practice: hammocks, brushing, weighted play, "heavy work" 26:57 A 2014 meta-analysis of 27 studies: some positive signals, but hampered by small samples and weak methods 28:57 A meta-analysis narrowing 11,619 citations down to just four studies on the Wilbarger protocol 35:19 Why insurance companies like Aetna classify sensory integration therapy as experimental 38:50 Practical guidance: how to approach treatment like a scientific study if you decide to proceed   References Aetna. (2018). Sensory and auditory integration therapy. Author. Retrieved from http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/200_299/0256.html American Academy of Pediatrics (2012). Sensory integration therapies for children with developmental and behavioral disorders. Pediatrics 129, 1186-1189. Anderson, S. (2017, September 28). The mind of John McPhee: A deeply private writer reveals his obsessive process. The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/magazine/the-mind-of-john-mcphee.html Aron, E.N., Aron, A., & Jagiellowicz, J. (2012). Sensory processing sensitivity: A review in the light of the evolution of biological responsivity. Personality and Social Psychology Review 16(3),262-282. Aron, E.N. (2002). The highly sensitive child: Helping our children thrive when the world overwhelms them. New York, NY: Three Rivers. Ayres, A.J. (2005). Sensory integration and the child: Understanding hidden sensory challenges. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services. 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Miller, L.J., Nielsen, D.M., Schoen, S.A., & Brett-Green, B.A. (2009). Perspectives on sensory processing disorder: A call for translational research. Frontiers in integrative neuroscience. Volume 3(22), 1-12. Miller, L.J., Coll, J.R., & Schoen, S.A. (2007). A randomized controlled pilot study of the effectiveness of occupational therapy for children with sensory modulation disorder. The American Journal of Occupationoal Therapy 61, 228-238. Schaaf, R.C., Dumont, R.L., Arbesman, M., & May-Benson, T.A. (2018). Efficacy of occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration®: A systematic Review. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy 71(1), 1-10. Schaaf, R.C., & Lane, A.E. (2015). Toward a best-practice protocol for assessment of sensory features in ASD. Journal of Autism and Development Disorders 45, 1380-1395. Schoen, S.A., Miller, L.J., & Sullivan, J.C. (2014). Measurement in sensory modulation: The Sensory Processing Scale Assessment. 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Treatment intervention advisory committee review and determination: Determination of Masgutova Method or Masgutova Neurosensorymotor Reflex Integration as a proven and effective treatment for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and/or other developmental disabilities. Author. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/tiac/masgutovanri.pdf